A packed Noosa Council gallery applauded when councillor Amelia Lorentson proposed a motion to defer the draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan (NRCMP) until July 2024, saying the issue wasn’t even the river plan, it was public trust.
It was an emotion-charged council chamber at last Thursday’s Ordinary Meeting in which councillors were set to decide on the proposed NRCMP that had undergone years of planning and consultation, had already been deferred a month to enable more information and consultation to be obtained, particularly surrounding a proposed establishment of a Conservation Park, and was recommended by staff for approval.
Pivotal to the decision outcome was the exclusion from the meeting, following his conflict of interest declaration, of Cr Brian Stockwell who had voiced his support for the NRCMP at council meetings last month.
Councillors questioned Cr Stockwell on his declared business relationship through his consultancy, Watershed Australia, with Healthy Land and Water which had provided input into the plan. The decision for him to remain in the room was heavily debated, the vote was 3:3 and lost on a casting vote by the chair, Cr Clare Stewart.
Cr Stockwell told the meeting in his consultancy his work included catchment management planning, town planning and river restoration.
Cr Joe Jurisevic said he believed it was in the public interest to have someone with such experience in this area in the room.
“We all offer advice, knowledge and experience to council when we have the relevant experience,“ he said.
Cr Karen Finzel agreed all councillors brought expertise to the table and contributed to decisions made but said she had concerns about disclosure around Cr Stockwell’s business arrangements. “My issue is the perception of public trust,“ she said.
Cr Tom Wegener described the issue as “preposterous“. “He has done his job and he is being punished for doing his job well and for working with staff on the river plan and anything to do with water,“ he said.
Cr Frank Wilkie said no link had been drawn to Cr Stockwell benefitting in any way by staying in the room.
“This is not democracy in action. it’s an improper use of conflict of interest laws,“ he said. “The important thing is Cr Stockwell has been open and transparent and declared that in a packed room.
“Yes, he did some work for Health Land and Water, Healthy Land and Water is mentioned in this report. I don’t know if his work with Healthy Land and Water has anything to do with this report – he’s saying no.
“This is a tenuous, shadowy link being drawn here and an easy one to sell because the emotion is so high.“
Cr Lorentson said the test was “whether a fair minded, reasonable person on the street would think he’d be impartial“.
“Given the matter is highly contentious, the more important question is whether Cr Stockwell’s inclusion would affect public trust,“ she said.
A motion put to the meeting, after Cr Stockwell’s exit, by Cr Jurisevic called for the NRCMP to be adopted with several considerations including “that the concept of a conservation park requires further public consultation with all stakeholders, including the Department of Environment and Science, and the general public before deciding whether to proceed further with the concept“.
But before any opportunity arose to discuss the motion Cr Lorentson put forward a procedural motion, an action upheld by the CEO to be lawfully appropriate, to
“defer consideration of the Noosa River Catchment Management Plan (NRCMP) to enable Council to undertake appropriate and full community and stakeholder consultation on the final Draft NRCMP in 2024 and following this process report back to the July 2024 Council with a final and fully costed NRCMP“.
“The issue is not about the River Plan. It is not about a Conservation Park. The issue tonight is about public trust. Our community has felt misled,“ she said.
“The Noosa community support a Noosa River Catchment Plan, in particular, they support measures aimed at excluding sediment, chemicals and human waste entering the river. Actions prioritising anchoring, mooring, liveaboards and sediment.
What the community don’t support is to not be consulted on significant matters that have the potential to impact on their livelihoods and lifestyles. Namely, the last-minute inclusion of a recommendation #1 to consider establishing a Conservation Park.“
The procedural motion vote, which will defer the NRCMP to four months after Council elections, was deadlocked Crs Stewart, Finzel, Lorentson for and Crs Wilkie, Jurisevic, Wegener against, and passed with a casting vote from the chair. Read more from Crs Stewart, Wilkie and Lorentson on pages 30, 32 and 33.
